Charles f



uiten tetra 4@attent @fitte CHARLES E. STEEL, OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.Letters .Patent No. 70,147, dated October l22, 1867.

IMPROITBMENT IN THE MANUIAGTURE 0I' POSTAGE-STAMPS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN: f

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STEEL, of the' city'of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kingspand State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in the Manufacture of Postage-Stamps, applicable, also, to

other stamps, druggists labels, etc.; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof. i

The object of my invention is to produce a stamp which shall stickbetter than usual, and which it shall be impossible to fraudulentlyremove and use again. Many eiiorts have been before made inthis-direction, but the diiference in the dryness between therecently-applied cancelling-ink and the long-before-applied ink of theprinting so greatly facilitates the removal of the former that itis'frequently easy to wash oii cancelling-ink with so simple chemicalsas common soap and water, even when the eancelling-'inkis of the samekind and quality as the ink with which the stamp is printed.

A part of my invention consists in embossing or partially breakingthepaper, so as to Open the texture of the paper along certain lines,without removing any part thereof. This causes `the stamp, label, etc.,to stick better, and allows the oil of the cancelling-ink, when such isused, to strike in very deeply.

Another portion of invention consists in applying. the gum to suchstamps prior to the breaking operation. This'avoids itstoomuch fillingsuch broken places, and impairing its appearance on the front side.

Another portion of my invention consists in smoothing the paper againafter the embossing or breaking, landprior to the printing. This allowsit to be printed better, and to present a more finished appearance.

And another portion4 of my invention consists in leaving certain partsof the stamp, so broken, in a clean or 'unprinted condition. This allowssuch part to absorb the cancelling-ink still more perfectly, when suchisused.

My improved stamp maybe more cheaply produced than any stamps adapted toeffect this purpose which are known to me.

I will first describe whatl consider thebest means of carrying outmyinvention, and will afterwards designate the points therein which Ibelieve to be new. lThe accompanying drawings form a part oftbis's-peciiication.

Figure 1 is a-face view. of my stamp complete. Figure 2 represents across-section of the stamp on line s s, when made 'according .to aportion of my invention. A l s Figure 3 is a cross-section when madeaccording to the preferable plan.

I Figure 4 is a greatly-misguided cross-section, showing the paper initsoriginal condition.

Figure 5 represents the same gummed, the gum being represented in red.

Figure 6 represents the same embossed.

Figure 7 represents the same after having been again iiattened, readyfor use.

Figure 8 represents the vsame after printing. The printing-ink is shownin blue.V

Figure 9 represents the same after the cancelling-ink is applied, and

Figure 10 represents the same after the cancelling-ink is washed o" fromthe surface, showing its retention in the body of the paper. i

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figureswhere they occur.

I select suitable paper, and, applying the gum on one face, let it dry.I then press the entire sheet between embossed plates, or pass itthrough between embossing-rollers. I then flatten a portion or the wholeof the paper, so as to nearly remove all indications of. the embossing,except that the tibre of the paper remains dis-` turbed, and partiallybroken. After this I print on the surface thus prepared.

' I esteem it greatly preferable to' leave a. portion of each stampunprinted, and untouched either, by the printing 'device or theflattening device, but some of thev advantages of my invention may beattained without thus proceeding..

I do not deem it necessary to describe the devices for embossing,iiattening, printing, etc., as they may be of any convenient characterknown to mechanics; but I prefer surface-printing, as it is more easy bythat style of printing to leave a portion of each stamp 4untouched andunaffected. l

The ordinary surface of a stamp which is printed by a plate is morecompressed than usual. When paper is intensely compressed by the severecontact of the polished plate therewith it becomes more dense andimpervious; and when upon the surface of paper so compressed is laid,asusual, nearly a continuous coating of thick ink-that used in printingthe stamp proper-and the same is allowed time to become thoroughlydried, it is difficult for the cancelling-ink -to strike into thematerial of the paper. But inmy stamp, made in the manner which I-mostprefer, the paper is not compressed by the plate, and is not coveredwith well-dried ink at the points referred to, but, on the contrary, itis strained open, and formed into cavities sufficiently large to offerfreeaccess to the oil, and to the coloring matter of the cancelling-ink.

Referring to the drawings, A is the main printed surface ofthe stamp,printed by surface-printing, or from a plate, or otherwise, with anyordinary or required devices. The whole or a portion of the remainingsurface B is covered with sharp and clearly-defined elevations anddepressions, produced by embossing with dies or rollers, notrepresented. The depressions are marked b, and are, in thesedrawings'distributed in regular order. At the points or along the lines@t m, between the depressions and the elevations, the' material of thepaper is so greatly strained and expanded -in the act of embossing thatits fibre is partly broken, and the material is left at those pointsmore open or porous than usual. The entire surface A has also been at aprevious period embossed, (in a style similar to b b, m m, ordi`erently,) but these embossed elevations and depressions have all beennearly or quite obliterated by having been subsequently pressed down andattened. As a result of the whole, it follows that the area A is printedas usual and appears as usual, exceptthat the lines, partially brokenytherein, are somewhat open to receive the cancelling-ink, and that thearea B is unprinted, and is still more lopen to receivecancelling-inkalong the partially-broken lines therein.

The cancelling-ink may be applied in any convenient manner, either uponthe. embossed surface alone, or promiscuously upon this and the othersurfaces. The cancelling-ink, striking upon the embossed surface, entersthe cavities and remains there, and washing will not remove it.Furthermore, the embossing so far weakens the paper that the stamp willnot bear the same amount of severe washing as ordinary stamps,y but willfall in pieces.

I believe that my stamp cannot be peeled 'from the paper by soakingwithout tearing at the embossed points,

and I am positive, from repeated trials, ,that the provision forabsorbing and retainingt'he cancelling-ink is very successful.

I propose to Hatten a portion ofthe paper in the interior of the spaceB, which is in the form of a numeral or numerals, indicating the value.This surface is marked C in the drawing, and is in the form of thenumeral 3, indicating that this stamp is a three-*cent stamp.

By the use of yellow paper, prepared with fugitive colors, or theordinary coloring'matter employed in the manufacture of yellow paper,Iam able to produce my stamps in such condition that the application ofdiluted acids, or any other of the ordinary chemicals employed to aid inthe removal of cancelling-ink, will be shown and indelibly recorded bychanging the colorrof the stamp. I

The lines of puncture-s nearly separating the several stamps one fromthe other are indicated by D. These are produced by dies, acting in thesame manner as has been long practisedv in the production of stampsorthe same dies may be also employed to flatten the surface, and thus,byadditional labor on the dies, I can decreasethe labor of printing andtreating the stamps.

I have proved, by experiment, that there is an increased degree ofadhesiveness attained by this system of breaking paper and iiattening itout again, and that it has the effect of an unsized paper, and issuperior to an unsized paper, because unsized paper will not hold butabsorbs the grim into its body.` By first applying the gum, and thengiving it the soft natu're by meshing and breaking, as described, Iobtain the adhesion due to unsized paper without the disadvantage. Thebreakage, as described, is different from simply pcrferating paper,because perforating does not Vaffect the whole body of the paper, whilethis straining and expansion does. consider it also an important pointthat these stamps, beingn'asl1ed or soaked so as to remove the gum fromthem, cannot be regummed iit for sale, as the gum will penetrate to theface of the stamp and injure its appearance.v

The printing may be done, with some success, directly upon the embossedor partially-broken material, before it is compressed or flattened againinto the plane form. In other words, the compressing may be done by theoperation of printing, or embossing on an embossed surface, but I preferto flatten beforehand, as described.

Some of the advantages due to certain features of my invention may beseparately enumerated,- as follows First. By reason of the fact that thepaper of my stamp is partially broken along the lines m, I am able t0make the paper more flexible and elastic, and less liable to loosenitself by shrinkage in drying; and also am able to insure thedestruction of the stamp in any effort to fraudulently remove it, by-making'the stamp too weak to be removed entire; and also to insure thatthere shall be cavities and ragged fractures in the paper,

which cavitieswill remain unfilled until the cancelling-ink is applied,andvvill afterwards hold the same, so that it cannot be washed away orotherwise removed.

Second. `By reason of the fact that the' gum is laid en my stamp beforethe embossing or partial breaking of the paper, I am able to avoid thefilling. of the cavities with gum. Theordinary wetting of the stamp toapply-it commences to soften the gum on the outside, and does not softenit so much as to cause the gum to penetrate the fractures, and thefractures remain open, in the same condition as if no gum were applied.

Third. By reason of the attening of my stamps after theirv partialbreakage or disturbance along the lines m, as described, I am able toprint on the partially-broken surface as perfectly as if it had not beendisturbed, While cavities are still allowed to remain partially but notentirely closed, to weaken the stamp and to receive and hold thecancelling-ink, as specified.

Fourth. By reason of the fact thatVV the portion B of my stamp is leftunlattened and unprinted, I am able to insure a, still greater degree ofpermeability in the material of` the stamp to receive and retain thecancelling-ink.

Having new fully described my invention, what I claim nfs new therein,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: l 4

1. I claim a. postagefstnnep, or equivnlent printed paper, harinr thepaper partially broken, opened, and weakened along the lines m,substantially ns'end forthe purpose herein set-forth.

2. I claim in the abone applying the gum or equivalent adhesive materialbefore such treatmentof the paper, as and for the purposes hereinspecified..

3. I elaim, in connection with the above steps, the ilzrttening of thewhele er a portion of the surface of' the pnper prior to the printingoperation, as und for the purpose herein explained. y

4. I claim leaving a spziee, Il, which is embossed and partiallybrokeinns indicated, und :not flattened or printed, substantially ns andfor the purpose herein specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto put my naine in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHAS. F. STEEL.

Witnesses:

C. O. LIVINGS, W. C. Dm'.

